Tucky Buzzard was a hard rock band from England that was formed in 1969. The group released a total of five studio albums during their time together, all of which seem to have been produced by Bill Wyman, the bassist for the Rolling Stones. This album, Tucky Buzzard (1971), appears to be the group’s self-titled debut album, though the official Wikipedia page for the album itself says the album is the Tucky Buzzard’s second studio album. I’ve been meaning to check out more British hard rock music from the late 1960s and early 1970s, so I’m pretty excited to give this album a listen. With that said, I’m going to jump on into the music.
“Time Will Be Your Doctor” gradually fades in with some high hats or shakers and some super groovy swirling organs, which are then joined by some conga/bongos. Oh wow, the track begins to take form as the traditional drum kit comes in with a strong backbeat alongside some hard, fuzzed guitar that reminds me a lot of groups like Cream. Oh wow, I really dig the the bass line in this track. I’m really digging this track so far. The soundscape sounds increasingly psychedelic-oriented. Holy smokes, I really dig the vocal harmonizations in the track. The drums and bass almost have a sort of hard funkiness to them that I dig. Wow, great track, and I’m excited to hear more.
“Stainless Steel Lady” starts out with some tight cymbals and some melty guitar that almost has a sort of country sound at first that I really dig. Oh wow, organs and other guitars come in and really get the tune rockin’ along. Holy smokes, it sounds like there’s a harmonica for a moment that blends with the organs. I’m really digging the overall album so far, so much so that I’m surprised I hadn’t really heard of Tucky Buzzard until recently. Holy smokes, I really dig the hard rockin’ guitar licks that complement the psychedelic style of the swirling organs really well. Holy smokes, all of the instruments but the drums drop away, and then they start coming back in one at a time, creating a super groovy, hard rockin’ psychedelic rock and roll jam in the process. Holy smokes, I really dig the guitar lines that come in right near the end of the jam movement. Wow, great track.
“Sally Shotgun” begins with a really mellow, country-style beginning with melty electric guitar, sweet acoustic guitar, a big bass line that easily moves the tune along, while the organs seem to add mellow, psychedelic accentuations to the guitar work. I really dig the vocals in this track, which remind me a bit of The Beatles. I really dig the way the drums complement the flow of the track when they come in. Great tune.
Oh wow, “Gu Gu Gu” starts out with a super groovy segue in from the previous track, almost as if this track is a natural evolution of the previous song as the guitar work picks up more electrification and distortion. Oh wow, the rhythm section between the drums, shakers, bass, and organs have a super sweet groove going, while the electric guitar plays some super groovy licks. Oh wow, there’s a really interesting coda at the end of the song with some harpsichord that somehow gets me listening even closer. Great track.
Oh wow, “My Friend” gets grooving with a big, low bass line, a sturdy backbeat, and some really sweet piano lines that seem to take the lead in the soundscape. Oh wow, the soundscape feels like some sort of cross between psychedelic pop of the mid-to-late 1960s, folksy pop rock reminiscent of John and Beverley Martyn from the early 1970s, and progressive rock from the late 1960s and early 1970s. Holy smokes, this is one groovy track. Holy smokes, it sounds like there are some brass instruments that come in near the end, and there are some super groovy guitar licks at the end of the song. Great track.
“Pisces Apple Lady” gets started with some really groovy piano that sets a sort of rollicking feel that is soon joined by some hard rockin’ drums and some fuzzed guitar that seems to be a combination of British psychedelic hard rock from the late 1960s and a more pop rock sort of sound that reminds me a bit of both The Beatles and John & Beverley Martyn again. Holy smokes, I really dig the way the piano and guitar match up for a couple lines in this track. Oh wow, the organs really get grooving as the song comes to a close and the soundscape seems to come to a crescendo of sorts. Great track.
“She’s Meat” gets started with some classic British hard blues rock licks from one of the guitars that is soon joined by a driving beat and bass line. Oh wow, I really dig the way the vocals sound in this one so far. Holy smokes, the track mellows out a bit for a moment that seem to incorporate some groovy psychedelic pop/rock organs into the soundscape. Holy smokes, one of the guitars adds on a wah pedal that seems to launch the track into an even more rockin’ jam. Oh wow, the mellow organ part plays alongside the blues rock guitar for the outro. Great track.
“Ace the Face” gets started with some really interesting bluesy flavors in the groove from the drums and bass guitar. Oh wow, it sounds like there’s an acoustic guitar adding some earthy accentuations to the bluesy bass line. Holy smokes, I really dig the distorted bluesy lines from the electric guitar, which almost seem to act as a response to the gritty vocal lines in this track. Oh wow, there are some super sweet drum fills in this track as well that make the tune feel even more dynamic. Great tune.
“Whisky Eyes” gets started with a somewhat mellow, yet still rockin’ drum beat, which is gradually accompanied by some mellow organs and some super sweet fuzz guitar. I’m sort of reminded of The Doors with the way the instruments gradually entered the track, if The Doors were more hard rock-oriented and/or more influenced by British blues rock. Holy smokes, I’m really digging this track. The drums really give the tune a dynamic feel with some of the drum fills and quick accentuations. Oh wow, the guitar work even seems to wander into a sort of darker, almost off-kilter style that reminds me of Robby Krieger from The Doors at the end of the chorus. Oh wow, I really dig the mellow guiding feel from the organs in this track, which remind of Ray Manzarek of The Doors as well. Holy smokes, I’m really digging the saxophone that comes in as well when the jams intensify a bit. The track almost seems like a psychedelic prog rock band trying to do their impression of The Doors. Great track.
“Rolling Cloud” gets started with some really groovy guitar licks that have a classic rock and roll feel with a bit of a country-inflection. Holy smokes, I really dig the use of the brass instruments in the soundscape, which almost give the tune a bit of a New Orleans feel. Oh wow, the acoustic guitar adds some really groovy, earthy accentuations to the bass line. I’m really digging the use of the organs in this one, which have a mellow rhythmic effect as they groove along the drums and bass. Holy smokes, the track pauses for a moment, and now there’s some swirling psychedelic organs coming in from the background in addition to the organs already present in the soundscape. Holy smokes, the music pauses again after it seemingly fades out, only for all of the instruments to come in with some super groovy jamming that melds country, psychedelic rock, prog rock, and various New Orleans flavors together. After the music faded out I actually had to do a double-take to make sure the song was over this time. Wow, great track, and an awesome way to finish the album.
Wow, this album is great. I’m shocked that I hadn’t heard of Tucky Buzzard until recently. The evolution of music ranged from bluesy psychedelic hard rock to something akin to New Orleans psychedelic rock jams by the end of the album, while incorporating different psychedelic pop, psychedelic rock, progressive rock, folk rock, hard funk rock, and country flavors throughout the listening experience that has left me puzzled as to how I hadn’t listened to this album until tonight, while extremely stoked that I did listen to the album tonight. I’m about to look on Discogs for how much a copy of this record on vinyl is selling for, as soon as I finish typing. Wow, if you’re a fan of harder British-based psychedelic rock from the late 1960s and early 1970s, and also enjoy progressive rock from around the same time period, then you might want to consider checking out this album. If you do decide to give this album a listen, then I sincerely do hope that you enjoy the listening experience at least as much as I did.
-A